Cardinals extend contract of GM Mozeliak, pick up option on Matheny

JUPITER, Fla. — The St. Louis Cardinals announced a three-year contract extension with general manager John Mozeliak on Thursday and exercised the 2014 option for manager Mike Matheny, hoping the pair will keep the team contending for the World Series.

The 44-year-old Mozeliak will be with the Cardinals through 2016. Matheny, in the second year of a two-year contract, is guaranteed through next year. Terms were not announced.

"We just wanted to solidify their standing in the organization and keep the continuity of the baseball operations going," chairman William DeWitt said, adding that the vision of the organization is to "win a championship but not at the expense of mortgaging our future."

Mozeliak was named senior vice president and GM in October 2007. Since then, the Cardinals have reached the postseason three times, winning the 2011 World Series and coming within a game last season.

Mozeliak, an 18-year veteran of the Cardinals front office, is credited with acquiring All-Stars Matt Holliday, David Freese, Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman and Rafael Furcal in his five years as GM. He signed All-Star catcher Yadier Molina to a long-term deal last spring.

Matheny, who guided the Cardinals to a wild-card berth and the NLCS in his first year as a manager, said picking up the option "wasn't something on my radar."

The Cardinals were 88-74 in Matheny's rookie year. After defeating Atlanta in the wild-card playoff, they eliminated the Nationals in five games in the division series and lost Game 7 of the NLCS to the Giants after taking a 3-1 series lead.

Developments

Pujols doing more on knee: Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols hopes to begin agility drills and light running in a couple of days to test his surgically repaired right knee.

Pujols underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in October but said Thursday he will ease into spring training with the hopes of being fully recovered for opening day April 9.

"It was just regular rehab," Pujols said. "Everyone knows that a week after the season Ineeded to have a little cleanup to my right knee. You saw how I played the last six or seven weeks of the season. I was in a lot of pain. Everything's good; I rehabbed really well."

Pujols struggled early last season and hit .285 with 30 homers and 105 RBIs in his first season with the Angels after leaving the St. Louis Cardinals on a $240 million, 10-year deal.

Howard ready to go for Phillies: Eager to get back to his old form, Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard arrived early to camp before position players have to report. He's come a long way since last year, when he missed half the season recovering from surgery on his left Achilles tendon.

"My left leg feels phenomenal compared to this time last year, compared to where it was when I came back," Howard said Thursday. "When I came back, there was obviously still a limp. I tried to do what I could."

Howard was injured making the final out in a 1-0 loss to St. Louis in Game 5 of the NL division series in 2011. He had a few setbacks last spring training and didn't return to the lineup until July 6.

Youkilis says no tension: Kevin Youkilis agrees with Joba Chamberlain: Any tension between the new teammates is in the past.

Youkilis, who came over from the Boston Red Sox, took part in his first workout with the Yankees on Thursday and addressed his feuding with New York right-handerChamberlain over tight fastballs.

"At some time, we'll all sit down and talk, but things all are going to be OK. Don't worry," Youkilis said.

Briefly: Oakland Athletics closer Grant Balfour underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday afternoon to repair a torn meniscus. The A's said the right-hander is expected to miss four to six weeks. The 35-year-old Balfour went 3-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 24 saves last season for the AL West champions. ... The Minnesota Twins have signed left-hander Rafael Perez to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp. Perez had surgery to remove a spur in his shoulder in September and started throwing for scouts earlier this week. ... The Colorado Rockies acquired infielder Reid Brignac from the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday for a player to be named and cash. The Rockies also placed left-hander Edward Cabrera on the 60-day disabled list with a shoulder injury.